Dispensing device for aerated cream



Jan. 13, 1942. R. E, UNCH 2,270,063

nIsPENsING DEVICE FOR AERATED CREAM Filed oct. 25, 1940 Patented Jan. 13, 1942 Itric 'DSPENSING EVICE FOR AERATED CREAM Ralph E. Linch, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Dairy Devices C'o., l Incorporated, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application October 23, 1940, Serial No. 362,445

(Cl. .22d-'74) 1 Claim.

This invention relates yto a device for dispensing aerat'ed expanded food products, such as aerated cream, generally used in the place of whipped cream.

A -primary object of the invention is to provide a device that will meet the sanitary requirements of the United States Public Health Service 4for grade A dairies, which lill and charge a container with cream and a suitable gas and deliver the filled device to the customer ready for use. One of the requirements of the sanitary code is that there be no inside threads, sharp corners, crevlces or other depressions, which can contact with the food product so that the device can be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before each refilling.

Therefore, a primary feature of the present construction is to provide a device that can be easily and quickly dismantled and thoroughly cleaned. To that end, the invention contemplates a wide mouth container including a cap'or cover carrying therewith a tube which serves to Iadmit nitrous oxide or similar gas into the container, and which also serves as a dispensing tube for the container contents, the said tube containing novel and practical valve means which may be readily taken apart for washing and cleaning, and subsequently reassembled with facility. In that connection, the invention contemplates a container having the special form of gas Yreceiving and dispensing instrumentalities referred to, whereby the device may be conveniently lled with cream or the like and then placed in communication with a source of compressed gas. Subsequently the inlet end of the tube may be capped by the customer or user with a special nozzle provided with manual valve operating means, which, when manipulated, will permit the discharge or dispensing of the desired aerated product.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and substantial valve parts vwhich are susceptible of embodiment in a form to be readily manufactured and assembled and subsequently taken apart and reassembled repeatedly during use. l

With the above and other objects in View which will more readily appear -as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated -and claimed.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of acontainer embodying the present improvements and Figure 3 is an elevation of the valve parts disassembled.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the inner endof the combined gas iilling and dispensing Vtube showing the form of bayonet lock at the end of the tub for the valve retaining means.

'Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

According to the embodiment shown, the device includes in its organization a container designated generally as A and a cap or cover B which may be detachably alixed to the upper end of the container by a clamping ring C. The clamping ring C may be internally threaded to receive threads formed on the enlarged r-portion D of the casing and suitable gasket meansvE is preferably employed between the cover B .and the upper edge or mouth of the -container A. It will be observed that the interior of the container -A is readily accessible for cleansing and no threads or sharp corners are 'presented therein.

The cap or cover B may be recessed at its outer periphery as indicated at l to receive the inwardly turned flange of the ring C. Preferably eccentrically of the cover B, there is provided a combined filling and dispensing tube 2, which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the cover. This tube extends outwardly beyond the cover as indicated -at 2a to provide a fitting for engaging with a compressed gas chuck or receiving a dispensing nozzle. Said rtube also extends from the inner face of the cover to a point relatively close to the bottom of the container A, and is provided with an interior bore 3` which is of substantially uniform diameter throughout the greater portion of its length. However, near its lower end, this bore is made of larger diameter as `indicated at 3a thereby providing an intez-nal shoulder 4. The lower end of the tube is formed with the bayonet slots 5 whose function and utility will later appear.

A novel separable valve unit F is carried within the tube 2. This unit consists of an elongated stem 6 of less diameter than the bore 3 of the tube and of 'such length that its upper end is substantially flush with the upper or outer end of the tube 2 when the valve assembly is normally seated in the tube. The inner end of the valve stem 6 is preferably reduced in diameter as indicated at I5a and has rigidly secured thereto a valve head l. The said valve head 'I cooperates with an annular gasket or valve seat 8 of rubber or similar material, which rests against the shoulder 4 in the tube. The portion of the stem 6b extending beyond the valve head I is intended to receive the open end of a coil spring 9 which is held in compressed relation to the head 1 by a novel spring holder I8. This holder preferably consists of a metal rod or the like medially doubled upon itself, as indicated at II, to enter the core of the coil spring 9, while the arms thereof form convenient finger gripping means for manipulating the spring holder into the bayonet slots 5. That is to say, after the stem 5, valve 1, and seat 8 have been assembled in the tube 2, the spring 9 may be held in the lower end of the tube by inserting the medial portion `II of the holder into the coil, pressing the arms of the spring holder into the entrance portion of the bayonet slots, and then twisting or rotating the same until the arms rest in the notched transverse portions of the slots 5. Thus, the spring may be held detachably in place and yet will not accidentally come loose during assembly of the device for use.

The purpose of the spring and spring holder is not primarily to hold the valve closed because this is accomplished by gas pressure within the container, but instead, the spring makes the valve more easily regulated when it is pushed open, and also holds the assembly together before the pressure is applied.

After the container is lled with cream or other liquid food product, approximately to the level of the dotted line :r in Figure l, and is properly charged with gas, it is delivered to the customer or user who applies the nozzle device designated generally as N. 'Ihe advantage of the detachable nozzle N will be apparent because after the device is lled at the dairy, the absence of means for controlling the valve stem 6 prevents accidental waste of the contents during handling. In other words, it is only when the device is in the hands of the customer ready for use, and the nozzle N is applied to the upper end of the tube 2, that the device is in condition to discharge the aerated food product. This feature also tends to prevent unauthorized tampering with the contents of the container.

When the nozzle device N is applied to the neck portion 2a of the container, it assumes the position shown in Figure 2. Referring specifically to the nozzle N, it will be seen that the same consists of the body or casing I2 provided with an interior chamber I3 which communicates with a sleeve portion I4, fitting over the neck 2EL of the tube 2, and the offset spout portion I5. The upper end of the body I2 of the nozzle is provided with a bore I6 for receiving the shank I1 of a manually operated knob I8. The lower end of the shank Il is preferably swedged, upset, or otherwise enlarged as indicated at Ila so as to prevent the shank from coming out of the body I2 and also to provide a rm engagement with the upper end of the valve stern 6.

Again referring to Figure 2, when it is desired to dispense the contents of the container, it is only necessary for the operator to hold the container A in one hand while he holds the dish or other receptacle containing food to be supplied with whipped cream in the other hand, and, then with a finger of the hand which holds the container, press the knob I8 inwardly thereby moving the stem 6 against the pressure of gas in the container and the spring 9 to unseat the valve 'I from the gasket 8 and permit the gas to force the cream or other liquid out through the spout I5. Upon release of finger pressure on the knob I8, the valve 'I will, of course, again be seated on the gasket 8 and thus close the dis pensing line through the tube 2.

Figure 3 of the drawing is intended to illustrate the dismantled valve parts to emphasize the separability thereof and the ease with which they may be assembled. All of these features are essential to proper cleansing. It will also be noted from Figure 3 that the rubber or other gasket 8 may be readily removed when the device is separated for cleaning. Likewise, the rubber gasket can be easily and frequently replaced because, as is well known, certain food liquids cause rubber or other gasket compositions to deteriorate in use. The gasket may be readily slipped on the stem 6 from the upper end and passes along the stem until it reaches the head 'I'. The stem 6 may be then inserted from the lower end of the tube 2 and the spring 9 and spring holder I0 may then be readily placed in position. In preparing the device for cleaning, the reverse of the operations just described may be performed to release the valve parts from the tube 2.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present construction provides an arrangement which may be readily taken apart for cleaning purposes and subsequently reassembled and refilled for further use. The detachable nozzle N may be readily applied to and disconnected from the upper end of the tube, and while the drawings illustrate a friction t between the sleeve I4 and the upper end of the tube, nevertheless it will, lof course, be understood that threads or any other well known locking means may be utilized to detachably connect the nozzle with the tube. It may be also pointed out that the sealing member or gasket 8 does not move in any of the operations of the valve, except that it is forced down against the shoulder 4 when the dispenser is charged with gas. After the gas has been injected, pressure within the container forces the sealing gasket 8 against the shoulder 4 and the valve head 'I against the gasket.

The dispenser may be charged from a large tank having a discharge hose provided with an air chuck indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The chuck is pushed over the upper end of the tube 2 and gas injected into the dispenser, assuming, of course, that the dispenser has been previously supplied with the desired quantity of food liquid.

Without further description, it is thought that the advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in minor details may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a sanitary aerated food dispenser including a wide mouth container having a detachable cover, a readily assembled and disassembled dispenser element comprising, a tube carried by the cover and having its outer end projecting beyond the outer face of the cover while its inner end extends into the container, said tube being provided with internal bores of different diameter forming a shoulder therebetween, said tube also being provided at its inner end with bayonet slots, a Valve device for said tube, said devicel including a gasket adapted to abut said shoulder, a. valve head adapted to abut against said gasket, a valve stem extending from said head through the tube to a point substantially ush with the said spring against the valve head.

RALPH E. LINCH. 

